Shower assembly for papermaking machines



Jn- 2, 1951 o. E. LARsoN SHOWER AssEMBLY' FOR PAPERMAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 21, 1945v Ffa/0 a D F161 Fa/Z .firm/EY Patented Jan. 2, 1951 SHOWER ASSEMBLY FOR PAPERMAKING MACHINES Oscar E. Larson, Andover, Mass., assignor to John W. Bolton & Sons, Inc., Lawrence, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 21,1945, Serial No. 630,033

1 This invention relates to washing devices which are known as shower pipes such as are used for washing or cleaning strainers, felts, etc., in paper and pulp mills. It is particularly adapted for cleaning shower pipes similar to those shown in the patent to Witham, Shower pipe, August 28, 1934, No. 1,972,001, and such as shown in patent to Schueler, Shower pipe cleaning device, May 19, 1942, No. 2,283,768, and those shown in the patent to Paramor, Washing device comprising shower pipes, April 16, 1935, No. 1,997,651.

In this class of shower pipes there is a longitudinal pipe with a plurality of openings, nozzles or what amount to spray outlets spaced longitudinally, there is always an inlet pipe and there may be an outlet pipe although in some cases the shower pipe comes to a dead end. l

In some cases, projecting nozzles are used, in

other cases radial cylindrical holes are used and in the case of Witham, there are aligned orices which connect on the outside with one groove and on the inside with another groove.

As the stock contains a good deal of solid material, it is necessary that these nozzles, holesv or orifices should be cleaned from time to time and it is desirable that the liquid which ows through them should be spread out in fan shape. It is also desirable that the cleaning device should not obstruct the flow of water to any extent.

Schueler shows power means for rotating an axially disposed rod carried by suitable bearings in the shower pipe and carrying a plurality of cleaning members one for each spray outlet, such cleaning members preferably being flexible such as brushes, in such a position that each can sweep through an insidey groove angularly disposed to the axis of the shower pipe. That angle is preferably 80, the movement of each brush andthe position of the inside groove being in a plane at an 80 angle to the axis of the pipe and of the rod. Whether with this arrangement ofl flexible members, such as brushes, flexible rubber members or scrapers, and whether operating in such grooves or merely passing along the inside of spray outlet holes of a cylindrical shape which holes pass through the wall of the shower pipe', or

spray outlet holes which are flush with the inside wall of the shower pipe but diverge on the outside, there is a tendency for the solid particles of the liquid being sprayed to gradually build up around and near the inside end of each spray outlet hole with the result that when disturbed by a cleaning member these solid particles tend to bunch and to clog thevoutlet and in fact the whole pipe. A

To make the whole line of spray even, the outside groove of the Witham nozzle or a baffle, when used, should be at an angle of ve to ten degrees fromv the axial line so that the separate sprays 2 claims. (o1. 299-59) overlap, or the nozzles could be staggered or off set in parallel lines.

I use an outlet with a flushing valve turnable by an operating rod which also carries the nozzle cleaning members.

The purpose of this device is to more thor oughly clean a shower pipe which has an inlet pipe at one end, aligned spray outlets of any one of the various kinds, and which has an outlet pipe. I accomplish this by providing a rod which rod also carries the spray outlet cleaning members.

The parts are so arranged that when the rod is turned from the outside, either manually or by power to cause the cleaning members to sweep past the inside ends of the spray outlets, the outlet flushing valve is fully opened by the rod with the result that there is a great rush of water through the shower pipe and through the outlet flushing valve which carries with it the loosened solid material.

For normal running the operating rod is so turned that the cleaning members are moved from the inside ends of these outlets and at the same time the flushing valve is closed.

The advantages of my turnable construction are that it is compact, the operator makes only a turning motion, instead of pulling and turning, and if the iiushing valve is left open, the spray iskso reduced that it is a signal to the operator to close that valve.

The port or ports in the fixed liushing valve casing and the port or ports in the turnable plug should be so positioned that they register and thus open the valve when the exible members are sweeping past the spray outlets or at any rate are closed while these Spray outlets are unobstructed during most of the time. To assist this,-there is preferably a stop or there are stops which compel the axial operating rod to stop in its turning'moveinent when the ushing valve is closed and the spray nozzles are wide open.

In the drawings Fig. l is adiagrammatic elevation partly in section of a Shower pipe of my construction in place over the wire of a Four-l with my preferred form of nozzles" in the preerred arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing another type of nozzles in a staggered arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 on the line 5 5 of Fig. 8, showing a ushing valve with two instead of one set of valve ports but the centralizer T omitted.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing another type of iiexible cleaning member and its association with a flushing valve of the type shown in Figs. 10, 1l and 12.

Fig. '7 is another view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 of still another type of cleaning member.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertically longitudinal sectional view of the end of a shower pipe where the flushing valve is located, the valve being of the type shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional elevation of the handle end or end opposite to the ushing valve of a shower pipe such as is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional elevation of another type ofy valve from what is shown in Figs. 5 and 8, being such as shown in Fig. 6, part of the handle end of the shower pipe being shown in elevation.

Fig. 1l is an elevation of the end of lthe plug member disk of a plug such as shown in Fig. 1I), removed from the shower pipe.

Fig. 12 is an elevation showing the end .of the nipple .part of a flushing valve Such .as shown in Fig. 10.

In the drawings, Fig. l shows one use of .avshower in a Fourdrinier machine ina paper mill, .4 representing the wire pit and 5 the Fourdrinier wire.

In this construction, the shower pipe such as .A is shown .as having outlets or nozzles N at the bottom so as to spray the wire 5 but in numerous other paper making machines in a paper mill, the shower pipe nozzles or outlets are at the top instead of at the bottom.

In Figs. l, 2, `3, 5, and 8, there are shown nozzles of the removable type like those in patent to Witham, Shower Pipe, August 28, 1934, No. 1,972,001. Each of these nozzles indicated by N has a central hole I, an outside groove 2 and an inside groove 3.

AAs shown in Fig. .3, the outside grooves 2 are preferably arranged so as to make an .angle of from ve to ten degrees with .the aXis vof the shower pipe .so that the sprays will not strike each other but will overlap as shown in Fig. 1.

I represents an inlet water vpipe with .a shut 01T valve 33 and O represents an outlet water pipe with a shut o valve 9| and vF represents a flushing valve which is positioned between the end of the .shower pipe A and the beginning of the outlet pipe O.

As shown, there is an elbow Il between the end of shower pipe A and outlet O. The :valve member I@ is shown as a nipple threaded .into this elbow I .'I, and there is also a coupling VI8 which connects member IG with the shower pipe A in the conical valve construction F shown .in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 8.

In the other type of valve V shown in Figs. 6, 10, l1, and 12, there is a similar arrangement with the valve member or nipple .20 threaded into a coupling I8 and elbow I1.

Valve F is carried by the end of an outlet cleaning rod R which as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 to 9, also carries a series of cleaning members shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 8, as brushes B of such a character as to permit water to pass them, each being positioned close to a nozzle N in a position so that when rod R is turned each brush B will sweep through the inside groove 3 in the adjoining nozzle N or past a spray outlet of any other type.

The ushing valve F includes a fixed member I9 which is hollow and as shown, is of truncated conical form with two outlet ports I I and I I communicating with the outlet pipe O and a turnable plug I2 having inlet ports I3 and I3 communicating with the shower pipe A, these ports vICI -outlet pipe O, preferably with such force and with Vsuch volume that it carries along all of the `sediment which is loosened by the turning or reciprocating motion of rod R and the brushes such as"B, -therebycleaning the spray nozzles such as N.

The plug VI2 is held in close Contact with the member I'Il by rod R which is held in axial position by means of 1a collar I4 carried by the rod R and held in adjusted position by means of gland G as see Fig. 9.

InFig. 4 is shown a shower pipe C with nozzles 1 which may be of any shape but are staggered in zig-.zag .form in two rows or lines.

As shown in Fig. `2, there may be .only one outlet port II and yone inlet port I3.

In long shower pipes, I may use one or rmore centralizers or steadying supports T such as shown in Fig. 8. As shown, each -support T is xed to a rod .by ra pin GI and has three arms through each of which `is a large hole Il!) to allow free passage .of the water.

In Figs. 6, 10, 1l and 12, I showa .shower pipe D with a rod K which carries a .number of flexible members 28 each held in a position -to sweep pasta nozzle such .as '8 which, as shown, is of cylindrical shape.

Rod Kalso carries at its end the plug member 23 of a valve V, which, .as shown, includes a nipple V2Il through which `are stationary valve ports 2|, 2| which allow water to pass from coupling I8 .to elbow I1 and .therefore to outlet pipe 0.

Plug member .23 includes a two :part disk I9 which engages nipple 2.@ and `rhas inlet .por-ts 24. .Ports 24 and 2II should `.register -when A.members 28 are passing nozzles ysuch as `8. 'IIhe face of .disk I9 which is not in .contact with 'nipple 20 can be flater its rim .29 can .be beveled .-to .prevent clogging and the shape and edges of :any .of the valve ports .can .be varied in .many ways.

The .plug .member 23 .is carried by .rod .K4

through which is a pin 25 which enters the slots 26, 26 in the plug member .23, there .being :a .compression spring .2] which .tends .to :keep `the .disk t9 of plug member 23 in engagement, with the nipple .20, .the whole rod K being .turnable .as is the rod R, so .that the ports 2I and 24 of `the :valve V can .be .kept .closed .most .of the .time with the .flexible members 28 vaway from the nozzles .8 but the valve vcan be opened with the ports registering during the whole or partei the time when the flexible members -28 are :sweeping past the nozzles 8 for cleaning.

As .shown in Fig. '7, .a .rod .such as H, in :place of the flexible members 28, can carry blades such as 30 Leach of which, rwhen .the rod .is turned.. scrapes .along the .inside of the .shower pipe L, sweeping past the .small `inner end yof one .of the outwardly flaring or tapered nozzle holes .9 .at Vthe top.

In every construction there is preferably :a gland G which includes a member 5B, threaded into a T 5I, which contains packing 52 with a packing nut- 53 and over this ,there is preferably a cap 54.

As the brushes B should be in ,relativen xed axial position :so that they will always `.sweep through channels such as 3, preferably I :use .an inside .collar I 4 adjustable `on rod by .a setfscrew 55 so that collar I4 rests against the endof member 5U of gland G.

Gn the outer vend of cap .54 .-I use ,an :outside collar 55 adjustable on rod R by a set screw El so that it can rest against the outside end of cap 54.

As the brushes or other flexible members have a certain amount of width, when and if it is necessary to make the tapered contact between the members i@ and i2 oi the tapered valve F closer as they wear, they can both be adjusted and the valve kept tight while in the construction of Valve V, the spring 2l keeps the valve members together at all times without adjustment.

In all cases I prefer an inside collar i@ and an outside collar 55 to keep the brushes in position to pass and clean nozzles N, "i, 8, or Q. Collar i4 also keeps the Valve members in contact.

As it may be desirable to provide a stop by means of which the workmen can .know When there is a flow of spray through the nozzles but nothing flowing through the ush valve, I can provide a stop arm 58 on the outside of collar Sii and a stop 59 on the outside of cap which is so made that it can slide on axially but cannot turn with reference to T 5l and the shower pipe. See Figs. 1 and 10.

By loosening set screw 5l and by turning the outside collar 55 stop arm 58 can be so set that when it engages the stop 59, the flushing valve ports will be entirely open or partly open or entirely closed so that the workmen can turn the handle [i2 in one direction until it stops for flushing, or for closing the nushing valve, with the cleaning brushes in position so that they will not obstruct the spray nozzles like N, l, S, or Si.

As valve members such as it or 2B are threaded, they can be so turned as to permit full or partial registration with the ports in the valve plug member when a stop arm 58 engages a stop 59 if it seems desirable to reduce the flow of the iiushing water.

I claim:

1. In combination in a shower device for paper making machines, a, shower `pipe provided with a plurality of spray outlets spaced longitudinally thereof, a water inlet pipe connected to one end of the shower pipe and a Water outlet pipe connected tothe other end thereof, a cleaner for the shower pipe including a rod disposed axially within the shower pipe, means mounting said rod for turning movement and preventing axial movement thereof, a ilush valve adjacent the outlet end of the shower pipe and including a valve seat and a valve member having ports adapted to be brought into and out of registration to open .and close the valve, said valve member being connected to said rod for operation by turning movement of the latter, said rod being provided with means extending to the exterior of the shower pipe and the water inlet pipe and operable to impart a turning movement to the rod, and a plurality of cleaning members carried by said rod, the cleaning members being circumferentially proximate to the spray outlets and adapted to sweep over the same when the rod is turned to open the valve, the cleaning members and the valve member being connected to the rod in such relation that the opening of the valve by only turning the rod brings the cleaning members into engagement with all the spray outlets.

2. In combination in a shower device for p-aper making machines, a shower pipe provided with a plurality of spray outlets spaced longitudinally thereof, a water inlet pipe connected to one end of the shower pipe and a water outlet pipe connected to the other end thereof, a cleaner for the shower pipe including a rod disposed axially within the shower pipe, means mounting said rod for turning movement and preventing axial movement thereof, a ush valve adjacent the outlet end of the shower pipe, said valve being connected to said rod for operation by turning movement of the latter, said rod be ing provided with means extending to the exterior of the shower pipe and the water inlet pipe and operable to impart a turning movement to the rod, and a plurality of cleaning members carried by said rod, the cleaning members being circumferentially proximate to the spray outlets and adapted to sweep over the same when the rod is turned to open the valve, the cleaning members and the valve being connected to the rod in such relation that the opening of the valve by only turning the rod brings the cleaning members into engagement with all the spray outlets.

OSCAR E. LARSON.

REFERENCES CTILED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 5,790 Stevens Mar. 1i), lii 44,933 Broughton Nov. 8, 18d-i 1,019,013 Baker et al Mar. 15, 1912 2,283,768 Schueler May 19, 1942 

